Whether old or young, major stars or emerging talents, actors are always in a position to strike gold with a special role. Such special roles can lead an aging actor to a major resurgence, or make the career of a fresh-faced starlet. We’ve seen this happen time and time again. Think, for example, of the late-career comeback of Robert Downey Jr. following the success of Iron Man in 2008 (more on this from Insider). We’ve been seeing his face on the silver screen (and just about everywhere else) ever since.

For this list, we wanted to bring together eight actors, at various stages in their careers, who we hope to see more of in the years to come. Whether by making a comeback, or following up a standout role with even greater successes, these actors are in positions to make the coming years their best years.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 Brendan Fraser

     A24

It’s common knowledge at this point - 2022 was Brendan Fraser’s comeback year. The one-time superstar who led The Mummy franchise to global success has made a stellar resurgence of late. Thanks especially to his knockout performance in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale, Fraser is in a position to become increasingly relevant in 2023 (and beyond). At the very least, he’s proven himself to be a serious dramatic actor, and we hope that The Whale is only the first in a series of leading roles.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

7 Michelle Yeoh

It wouldn’t be quite right to say that Michelle Yeoh had a resurgence in 2022. She is, after all, a legend of Hong Kong cinema who has worked ceaselessly as an actor from the 1980s on. But 2022 was certainly a landmark year for the Malaysian star, as she played the lead in the critically acclaimed Everything Everywhere All at Once. It wouldn’t surprise us if Yeoh takes home an Academy Award for her performance of Evelyn Quan Wang. The success of Everything Everywhere All at Once will hopefully land her another role (or several) in which she can show off her martial arts prowess.

6 Nicolas Cage

     RLJE Films

Nicolas Cage has had several periods of major stardom, but we don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that he’s at the height of his powers now. After recent gems like Mandy, Pig, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, he’s in a position to carry his hot streak into 2023. Whether or not we ever see the elusive National Treasure 3, we hope that Cage continues to grace the silver screen with his iconic presence.

5 Adam Sandler

After his career-best performance as Howard Ratner in Uncut Gems, who wouldn’t want to see more of Adam Sandler? These could be the golden years of Sandler as a dramatic actor. Despite his work with Paul Thomas Anderson on Punch-Drunk Love, Sandler hasn’t always been thought of as a so-called “serious” actor. After Uncut Gems, it’s almost impossible to see him otherwise. Thankfully, Deadline reports that he and the Safdie Brothers, the directors of Uncut Gems, are at work on another collaboration.

4 John David Washington

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Son of the legendary Denzel Washington, John David Washington has had a promising start to his acting career. Not many actors have led a Christopher Nolan project, but Washington played the protagonist of 2020’s Tenet like a seasoned veteran. For the future, we’re hoping to see him in more expressive roles - roles that will allow him to demonstrate the range and depth of his abilities. At the same time, however, he’d make a great fit for just about any action blockbuster. He has the looks, the voice, and the chops to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

3 Brian Tyree Henry

     Sony Pictures Releasing

Brian Tyree Henry is relatively new to stardom. His breakout role came in 2016, with the FX series Atlanta, and since then he’s been landing increasingly bigger parts. He joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Phastos in Eternals, and his character in last year’s Bullet Train was the most memorable of the film. The North Carolina-born actor has range, too, as evidenced by his pitch-perfect British accent in Bullet Train. He has the makings of Hollywood greatness, and we’d love to see him play a leading role.

2 Riz Ahmed

     HBO

For his subdued, moving performance in The Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed was nominated for Best Actor at the 93rd Academy Awards. This came after a series of strong supporting parts in films like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Nightcrawler. But we think Ahmed is just getting started. The British actor has shown that he can do big-budget blockbusters as well as small, intimate productions. It’s our hope that the acclaim he won for The Sound of Metal will earn him bigger and better roles as we move through the decade. There are future Oscar nominations (and perhaps wins) in store for Riz Ahmed.

1 Cooper Hoffman

     Universal Pictures

Cooper Hoffman is just 19 years old. Yes, you read that right - 19 years old, and he’s already starred in a Paul Thomas Anderson movie. But Licorice Pizza (which was his film debut) is just the beginning. He has his whole career ahead of him, and we can expect to see more from the talented young actor in the coming years. It seems that theatrical skill runs in the family, as Cooper Hoffman is the son of the late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. These are big shoes to fill, but Cooper has already proven himself, earning a Golden Globe nomination for his work on Licorice Pizza and sowing the seeds for a stellar career. Here’s to the future.